Paul Chastain (The Small Square, Velvet Crush)

Performance Anxiety

Today’s guest makes me want to be more international. I’m joined by Paul Chastain. You may know him from his band The Small Square. Or you may remember him from Velvet Crush. Either way, he drops in while traveling to Wisconsin to talk about his early fascination with harmony, when and why he started singing, and meeting Ric Menck to form Velvet Crush. He reveals why the band moved from the midwest to Rhode Island, how they decided on the name Velvet Crush, and their long-term relationship with Matthew Sweet.

Paul tells me why Japan is so important to him and the band and what ultimately made him decide to move there.

Paul’s latest band, The Small Square, have recently released their second album, Ours & Others. He talks about playing tag team piano in the studio, recording music that he wrote for someone else and how it doesn’t really feel like it’s his, and his connection and ghostly tribute to Tommy Keene. Check out smallsquaremusic.com or farmtolabelrecords for album info. Follow them at The Small Square on Facebook or smallish.square on Instagram. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on X & Instagram. You can buy our merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or feed our coffee habit at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now prepare to be crushed by Paul Chastain on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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